Carlton Fields' Punzak will chair St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce

David R. Punzak, St. Petersburg office managing shareholder of Carlton Fields, was elected to serve a one-year term as chairman of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

Punzak, 51, assumes his new role in January, succeeding chairman Mark Wimberly of Progress Energy Florida.

A chamber member for more than 25 years, Punzak and chamber CEO Chris Steinocher said in a statement that they plan to "get back to the basics" in asking members how they can help grow their businesses.